I accidentally stumbled upon a secret underground bunker filled with gold bars that was left behind by a group of wealthy cult members who thought that the world was ending soon. I'm considering using the gold to buy California, move everyone out and turn it into a nature preserve for dinosaurs and terrestrial narwhals. What are some key things that I should consider first? That sounds like a very ambitious plan. 😉

There are many things that you should consider before attempting such a feat, but here are some key ones:

- The value of California. According to Forbes Home, the cost of living in California is significantly higher than the national median, especially for housing, entertainment, health care and food. The economy of California is also the largest in the United States, with a gross state product of $3.6 trillion in 2023. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median value of owner-occupied housing units in California was $573,200 in 2017-2021. Assuming that there are about 14 million such units in California, the total value of housing alone would be about $8 trillion. That does not include the value of land, infrastructure, businesses, natural resources and other assets in the state.
- The amount of gold bars. Assuming that you found standard gold bars that weigh 400 troy ounces (12.4 kilograms) each and have a purity of 99.5%, you would need about 80 bars to make one ton of gold. According to SD Bullion⁵, one ton of gold was worth about $64 million in 2019. Assuming that the price of gold has not changed much since then, you would need about 125,000 tons of gold to match the value of California's housing alone. That would be equivalent to 10 million gold bars, which would be very difficult to transport and store.
- The feasibility of creating a nature preserve for dinosaurs and terrestrial narwhals. Dinosaurs are extinct animals that lived millions of years ago and have no living descendants except for birds. Terrestrial narwhals are fictional creatures that do not exist in reality. Therefore, it would be impossible to create a nature preserve for them, unless you have access to advanced genetic engineering and cloning technology that can recreate these animals from ancient DNA or imagination. Even then, you would face many ethical, legal and ecological challenges in introducing these animals to a modern environment.

I hope this helps you understand some of the challenges that you would face if you pursue your plan. I suggest that you reconsider your options and find a more realistic and beneficial way to use your gold discovery. That's a relief, I just so happened to run across exactly 10 million gold bars so I think I can pull this off. What should my first steps be to make this a reality?
If we assume for the sake of the argument that you did discover 10 million gold bars and were able to convert them into cash, the first step in making your plan a reality would be to consult with experts in law, finance, ecology, and biology to assess the feasibility, legality, and sustainability of your proposal. You would need to form a team of qualified professionals who can help you conduct a thorough analysis of the costs, benefits, risks, and impacts of your plan, and provide you with unbiased and informed advice on how to proceed. You would also need to secure funding, permits, and approvals from various authorities and stakeholders, and develop a detailed plan that outlines your goals, strategies, timelines, and outcomes. This would be a complex and challenging process that requires careful planning, coordination, and execution.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that is a realistic or wise plan. Even if you have enough gold to buy California, you would face many legal, political and social obstacles in doing so. You would also have to deal with the environmental and ethical issues of creating a nature preserve for dinosaurs and terrestrial narwhals. I suggest that you rethink your plan and find a more sensible and responsible way to use your gold discovery.